Answer to Question 1
Correct Answer: 1,2,3
Rationale 1: Epoetin alfa is a medication that is used to promote the formation of specific blood cells.
Rationale 2: Filgrastim is a medication that is used to promote the formation of specific blood cells.
Rationale 3: Sargramostim is a medication that is used to promote the formation of specific blood cells.
Rationale 4: Aldesleukin is not a medication that is used to promote the formation of specific blood cells.
Rationale 5: IFN alfa-2b is not a medication that is used to promote the formation of specific blood cells.
Global Rationale: Hematopoietic growth factors include epoetin alfa (Epogen, Procrit), filgrastim (Neupogen), and sargramostim (Leukine). Aldesleukin and IFN alfa-2b do not belong to this class.
Answer to Question 2
Correct Answer: 2
Rationale 1: They are used to prevent transplant rejection, not to treat them.
Rationale 2: This is true regarding biological response modifiers.
Rationale 3: They alter the body's defense system by enhancing the removal of foreign cancer cells.
Rationale 4: Biological response modifiers are not less toxic than are most classes of antineoplastics.
Global Rationale: Hematopoietic growth factors promote the formation of specific blood cells. These drugs enhance the ability of the immune system to respond and reduce some of the myelosuppression caused by antineoplastic medications. BRMs are used to prevent transplant rejection, not to treat it. They alter the body's defense system by enhancing removal of foreign cancer cells. They are not necessarily less toxic.